Are 10-game schedules coming to the Big Ten?

• Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo said a 10-game Big Ten schedule is “inevitable.” Gophers coach Tracy Claeys and Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald say they’d prefer that to this year’s nine-game schedule, with four at home and five on the road. Along with Nebraska’s Mike Riley, these coaches want uniformity throughout the Power Five. SEC and ACC teams have eight conference games, while the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 have nine. “I really believe the data points [for the College Football Playoff] should be the same,” Fitzgerald said.”

• The Gophers play at Penn State next week, and the Nittany Lions have been decimated with injuries on defense. After losing middle linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White to a torn ACL, Penn State could be without all three starting linebackers Saturday at Michigan. James Franklin’s squad ranks 12th in the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing 176.3 yards per game.

• Riley got a much-needed win over Oregon but admitted that the Cornhuskers must be better moving forward. The view here is the jury’s still out on Nebraska, which is a potential upset victim heading into Saturday night’s game at Northwestern.